I wanted to share my experience with Plan B in hopes it will calm some fears of others who were in my position.
I had protected sex, with a condom, when it slipped off while being withdrawn. This was after he ejaculated. Not being sure if any sperm had leaked out or somehow presented itself, I took action into my own hands. My partner claimed I had nothing to worry about, but I wasn't so sure. I was never one for charting my ovulation, nor was I highly aware of it, BUT the night this happened I could have been ovulating. I panicked. I did not want to have a baby, so I rushed to my local 24 hour drugstore. I picked up Plan B. It ran me $50 and it's now found on the shelf in the family planning aisle. It was Plan B one step. I took the one pill about two hours after we had had sex. Then the waiting began...
The night I took it, I felt pretty decent. Next day, nothing. It wasn't until about a week after taking Plan B, that nausea, little hot flashes, dizziness, and breast tenderness started setting in. The second week after taking Plan B, my breasts got so sore, I couldn't barely put a bra on, shower water hitting them was like daggers, it was awful! I was pretty concerned as it's normal for me to experience tender breasts about a week before my period but my period was still a while away and my breasts had NEVER been this sore. But I dealt with it, and reassured myself that I was okay. At the end of the second week, I started feeling cramps, really really bad cramps, spotting occurred, brown at first, then pink, then about two days later I broke out into a full bleed. I bled straight for 4 days, pretty much the length of my normal period, however this one seemed more heavy, and more bright red blood than I was used to, but on the 4th day of it, it stopped.
So to recap, I took Plan B around the possible time of ovulation. I experienced symptoms within a week, VERY sore breasts that lasted about three weeks, cramps, bloating, zits, dizziness, just awful. However I received my period 3 days earlier than when it was due.
Did I feel relief? Yes. Did I think this ordeal was over? Not quite. Even after my "period" had ended I ended up being the worry wart I am, taking a pregnancy test. First morning urine, about 3 weeks after the sex had happened, negative. At that point I was convinced Plan B had caused my bleeding and that I could consider that my period and the pill worked.
So when do you count your next cycle from? Well I ended up counting my next cycle from the day the new bleeding started from taking Plan B. My cycle is usually 30 days and I'm pretty regular. I am also NOT on any additional birth control, I only use condoms. So I sat here waiting or my next period to show, the next period after you have already bled once on Plan B. Now I know cycle changes are one of the side effects from Plan B and can go on for months, but again, what girl isn't worried about her health? And if you are like me, you want to be double, triple, quadruple sure you are okay?
So 30 days since I bled after taking Plan B, I had NO signs of my period coming. Very light soreness in my breasts, a twinge of pain in my abdomen, but nothing like what usually indicated it was coming. Day 30 came and went, nothing. Day 37, nothing, I was panicking! I took more home pregnancy tests even though probably not needed but to ease my mind I did. They were negative. I got so worked up that something was wrong I actually went to a free clinic for testing and they only did urine samples, negative. No one could really give me a real answer if Plan B was causing this and they seemed to have no information for me, just telling me everyone woman is different. Which I understand, but the last thing you want to hear when you are in full out panic mode is an, "I don't know, come back in two weeks", I mean this ordeal has been going on for almost two months now and the immature guy I was with jumped ship the moment I even tried to tell him I was a bit fearful of being pregnant. So lesson learned. If your partner is decent enough to stick around, bravo. I just wanted to share with him what I was going through and he did not even want to hear it.
Moving on though, so I sat with my negative pregnancy tests, being alone and scared, with no health insurance not knowing what my next move was. I have done the internet searches, I have read many of these message boards. So many girls in the same position as me, grasping for answers, yet they never seem to get one of people don't come back to tell their story after they have gone through something. So that's what I'm here for, I want to help others, because man I have been through the gauntlet with this Plan B.
So to wrap it up, here I sit, 45 days into my second cycle after taking plan b, which makes me roughly about two weeks late and I had the worst cramps, and I had mild spotting, but it looks like I have finally gotten my period and maybe now i can finally get my life back on track and focus on my life again instead of worrying about peeing on a stick.
So to recap -
Can Plan B bring on your period late or early?
Yes, after taking Plan B, I actually ended up bleeding fully two and a half weeks after taking it. I took it during the time I was ovulating and the day I got my period after taking Plan B was three days earlier than I would have expected.
Side effects?
I hate VERY sore breasts, alarmingly sore for almost three weeks, cramps, dizziness, very bad breakouts on my face which I'm still dealing with and some weight gain / bloating.
Second period after Plan B, showed almost no symptoms and more than two weeks late?
YES! My second period showed no signs it was even approaching, I drove myself nuts taking pregnancy tests, all negative, FINALLY i got my period after 45 days in between the time i bled after Plan B and now. The cramps are pretty bad I will admit. Stronger than I'm used to.
hope this helped someone out there! lesson learned for me, I'm glad as a female I have options like Plan B, very glad it's there, but wow it does work over your system pretty good so lesson learned and take caution!
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Add a Comment288 Comments
Last month, Jan 8, I had unprotected sex, he didn't ejaculate inside of me, but I took a plan b because I hadn't refilled my birth control, yet. This was a few days after my period. Than the 27th I had unprotected sex again, I was on a lower hormone bc, but missed a day a week before and thought I'd rather be safe than sorry, so I took another plan b. During my inactive pills I was spotting for two days. It was a couple days later than usual but figured I sent my body into a shock and I didn't get any heavier bleeding after that. Now almost a month later I've been experiencing cramping, acne, and bloating, the usual period symptoms, it's a week before my inactive pills, but no sign of bleeding. Can the plan b affect me that much?
February 23, 2017 - 7:04pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
Yes, Plan B can causes changes in the menstrual cycle. It contains a high dose of the same hormone found in most birth control pills.
If you do not have a normal flow during the week of inactive pills, please contact your gynecologist.
Regards,
February 24, 2017 - 7:48amMaryann
This Comment
I took plan B on 2/15, on 2/18 until even now I have experienced nausea, I got my period the day the symptoms started. Could this be plan B or something else?
February 22, 2017 - 8:11amThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
The nausea is a side effect of Plan B. Starting your period is proof that you did not become pregnant.
Maryann
February 22, 2017 - 9:45amThis Comment
I had a miscarriage Jan 31 2017 I had protested sex on feb 8 briefly he stuck it in like 3 or 4 times unprotected and feb 16 I had protected sex and took a plan b to be safe. Now I'm experiencing breast tenderness and skin hurts and back aches. I haven't had a period since my miscarriage so I don't know what to compare it to. Is it possible that I could be pregnant.
March 2, 2017 - 6:30pmThis Comment
Hey i had unprotected sex the day after my periods ended... i then took plan be after 24 hrs. After 5 days i started bleeding...the bleeding stopped after 6 days..... then after a week i started experiencing nausea, getting tired, bloating and my breasts are tender. Im worried is this normal? im i pregnant? Or will i get my periods?
February 22, 2017 - 6:07amThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
No, you are not pregnant. The bleeding was proof of that. All your other symptoms are side effects of Plan B and should go away soon.
You should get your period next month.
Maryann
February 22, 2017 - 9:47amThis Comment
Hi there,
February 15, 2017 - 10:11amI took a plan b the day after i had unprotected sex. My partner claimed that he did not finish inside me but i was still worried about the "pre-cum". I took the plan B about 24 hours later and everything seemed to be fine. (This was on December 16th.) The next few days i started having cramps and a little pain on the side of my abdomen which felt like it was coming from my ovaries. Two weeks went by and i continued having the little cramps and a bit of nausea. The day before getting my period, I felt the same little pain coming from my left ovary. (My period came on time.) I got my period the next morning but it only lasted for two days and the third day consisted of spotting. two weeks later i took about four pregnancy test but they all came out negative. I still continued having the cramps and pain in my abdomen. My second period came on time too. This one seemed a little bit more normal but i am still concerend. Its been about two weeks since i have gotten my second period and i am still wondering if i could be pregnant after all this.
This Comment
Hello Anonymous,
Two periods after taking Plan B indicates that you did not become pregnant. I am concerned that you continue to have abdominal pain and cramping.
Please speak with your gynecologist about this. The side effects of Plan B do not usually last beyond two weeks.
Regards,
February 15, 2017 - 10:30amMaryann
This Comment
im also receiving unusual discharge. mine used to be clear but now it is white and sticky. could this be because of the pill?
February 15, 2017 - 8:34pmThis Comment